Studying How Hypoxic Conditioning and Exercise Affect Brain and Heart Health in Inactive Older Adults Aged 60 to 80

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying how hypoxic conditioning, alone or combined with exercise training, affects cerebrovascular health in elderly people aged 60 to 80. This study aims to address age-related declines in vascular function that impact physical and cognitive abilities. Since some people cannot or do not want to do regular exercise, this research explores alternative ways to improve heart and brain health using controlled low-oxygen exposure. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups resting with intermittent hypoxia, resting with normal oxygen placebo, exercising under hypoxia, or exercising with normal oxygen. Each group will undergo three sessions per week for eight weeks. The study will compare the effects of hypoxia at rest and during exercise to see which approach best supports cerebrovascular function. Throughout the study, researchers will measure middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity, peak oxygen uptake, blood vessel dilation, blood pressure, sleep quality, cognitive function, and health-related quality of life before the intervention, immediately afterwards, and two months later. The study includes four months of participation, combining the intervention period and follow-up assessments to monitor changes and safety.

Effect of Hypoxic Conditioning on Cerebrovascular Health in the Elderly